Devices and methods for suture placement

Abstract

A suturing device includes a needle, a suture, an elongate body, an actuator and a curved needle holder. The needle has first end, which is pointed, a second end, a curved distal section and a straighter proximal section, which is straight or has a radius of curvature greater than the curved distal section. The suture connects with the needle. The actuator includes a mechanism operable to move the needle with respect to the elongate body. The curved needle holder extends away from a distal end portion or is provided as part of the distal end portion of the elongate body. The curved needle holder includes an inner surface defining a curved needle passage for holding the needle and a distal opening through which the needle exits the curved needle holder. The needle frictionally engages the inner surface when the needle is in a retracted position.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A suturing device comprising:
 a needle having first end, which is pointed, and a second end, the needle having a curved distal section and a straighter proximal section, which is straight or has a radius of curvature greater than the curved distal section; 
 a suture connected with the needle; 
 an elongate body including a proximal end portion and a distal end portion; 
 an actuator including a mechanism operable to move the needle with respect to the elongate body; 
 a curved needle holder extending away from the distal end portion or provided as part of the distal end portion of the elongate body, the curved needle holder including an inner surface defining a curved needle passage for holding the needle and a distal opening through which the needle exits the curved needle holder when moving from a retracted position toward a released condition; and 
 wherein the needle frictionally engages the inner surface in a least three different locations along the needle when the needle is in the retracted position. 
 
     
     
       2. The suturing device of  claim 1 , wherein a length of the straighter proximal section is a minority of an overall length of the needle. 
     
     
       3. The suturing device of  claim 2 , wherein the length of the straighter proximal section of the needle is at least 20% of the overall length of the needle. 
     
     
       4. The suturing device of  claim 2 , wherein the length of the straighter proximal section of the needle is at least 40% of the overall length of the needle. 
     
     
       5. The suturing device of  claim 1 , wherein the needle contacts the inner surface of the curved needle holder at a first location, a second location and a third location along the needle, wherein the first location is located adjacent to the second end, wherein the second location is located offset from the second end toward the first end, and wherein the third location is located offset from the first end toward the second end. 
     
     
       6. The suturing device of  claim 5 , wherein the first location and the third location are located on an outer surface of the needle and the second location is along an inner surface of the needle, the outer surface and the inner surface of the needle being positioned with respect to a center of a radius of curvature for the curved needle passage. 
     
     
       7. The suturing device of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the needle is offset from the inner surface of the curved needle passage at a distal-most tip of the needle holder when the needle is in the retracted position. 
     
     
       8. The suturing device of  claim 1 , wherein the curved needle passage follows an arc length less than 140 degrees between a location where the curved needle holder begins to curve away from a longitudinal axis of the suturing device and a distal-most tip of the needle holder. 
     
     
       9. The suturing device of  claim 1 , wherein the curved needle holder includes a distal notch at the distal opening that extends in a proximal direction toward the elongate body. 
     
     
       10. A suturing device comprising:
 a needle having first end, which is pointed, and a second end, the needle having a curved distal section and a straighter proximal section, which is straight or has a radius of curvature greater than the curved distal section; 
 a suture connected with the needle; 
 an elongate body including a proximal end portion and a distal end portion; 
 an actuator including a mechanism operable to move the needle with respect to the elongate body; 
 a curved needle holder extending away from the distal end portion or provided as part of the distal end portion of the elongate body, the curved needle holder including an inner surface defining a curved needle passage for holding the needle and a distal opening through which the needle exits the curved needle holder when moving from a retracted position toward a released condition; and 
 wherein the needle frictionally engages the inner surface when the needle is in the retracted position, wherein at least a portion of the suture extends along the curved needle passage from the second end of the needle toward the distal opening between the needle and the inner surface of the curved needle holder when the needle is received in the curved needle passage in the retracted position. 
 
     
     
       11. A suturing device comprising:
 a needle having first end, which is pointed, and a second end, the needle having a curved distal section and a straighter proximal section, which is straight or has a radius of curvature greater than the curved distal section; 
 a suture connected with the needle; 
 an elongate body including a proximal end portion and a distal end portion; 
 an actuator including a mechanism operable to move the needle with respect to the elongate body; 
 a curved needle holder extending away from the distal end portion or provided as part of the distal end portion of the elongate body, the curved needle holder including an inner surface defining a curved needle passage for holding the needle and a distal opening through which the needle exits the curved needle holder when moving from a retracted position toward a released condition, the curved needle holder including a proximal hole extending into the curved needle passage, wherein the proximal hole is spaced from the distal opening; and 
 a needle retainer engaging the needle holder and the needle when the needle is in the retracted position and configured to inhibit movement of the needle toward distal opening, wherein a portion of the needle retainer extends into the curved needle passage through the proximal hole when the needle is in the retracted position, 
 wherein the needle frictionally engages the inner surface when the needle is in the retracted position. 
 
     
     
       12. The suturing device of  claim 11 , wherein the portion of the needle retainer extending into the curved needle passage through the proximal hole is made from a resilient material. 
     
     
       13. The suturing device of  claim 11 , wherein an entirety of the needle retainer is made from the resilient material. 
     
     
       14. The suturing device of  claim 11 , wherein the needle retainer is a flexible sheath that surrounds the needle holder and terminates at a lower end, which extends into the proximal hole. 
     
     
       15. The suturing device of  claim 11 , wherein the needle retainer is a flexible sheath that surrounds the needle holder, conforms to a peripheral edge of the proximal hole and extends into the proximal hole. 
     
     
       16. The suturing device of  claim 15 , wherein the needle moves from the retracted position toward the released condition as the actuator moves from a first operating position toward a second operating position, wherein the actuator includes a wire and the proximal hole extends into the curved needle passage where a distal end of the wire resides when the actuator is in the first operating position. 
     
     
       17. The suturing device of  claim 16 , wherein the flexible sheath urges the wire and the second end of the needle in the same direction against the inner surface of the curved needle passage. 
     
     
       18. The suturing device of  claim 16 , wherein the flexible sheath urges the wire and the second end of the needle toward a side of the inner surface of the curved needle passage that is spaced farthest from a center of a radius of curvature for the curved needle passage.